Susie Raisher Photo

Spirit of St Louis takes flight in $125K Ashley T. Cole

by Mary Eddy

Madaket Stables, Michael Dubb and Richard Schermerhorn’s Spirit of St Louis notched his first career stakes triumph in Friday’s $125,000 Ashley T. Cole, a nine-furlong outer turf test for New York-breds 3-years-old and up, at Belmont at the Big A.

Trained by four-time Eclipse Award-winning trainer Chad Brown, Spirit of St Louis pounced from off the pace under Manny Franco to wear down a prominent Jerry the Nipper in mid-stretch and land the 1 1/4-length victory. The win came after finishing second to returning rival City Man in the $200,000 West Point presented by Trustco Bank on August 27 at Saratoga Race Course where he made his stakes debut.

The son of Medaglia d’Oro emerged well from post 5 and settled in mid-pack as Jerry the Nipper broke sharpest of all, but relinquished the lead to Un Ojo, who cleared the field and tucked in along rail from the outermost post 6 to lead through an opening quarter-mile in 23.36 seconds over the firm footing.

Jerry the Nipper kept close watch in second down the backstretch as the field raced in a line with Spirit of St Louis sitting fourth just behind longshot Kingdom On Paws as post-time favorite City Man trailed in last and Un Ojo marked the half-mile in 48.29.

Approaching the turn, Jerry the Nipper came to even terms with a toiling Un Ojo as Spirit of St Louis launched an outside rally and City Man followed his run under Trevor McCarthy to circle the field and take dead aim at the lead widest of all.

Jerry the Nipper took command exiting the turn and attempted to draw off from a looming Spirit of St Louis after three-quarters in 1:12.92, but Spirit of St Louis had enough left to inch past his rival near the sixteenth pole and crossed the wire first in a final time of 1:48.29 while City Man drifted out and missed place honors by a neck to Jerry the Nipper.

Barrage completed the superfecta another 2 3/4 lengths behind City Man with Kingdom On Paws and Un Ojo completing the order of finish. Born Dancer was scratched.

Brown praised the well-timed ride by Franco, who rode Spirit of St Louis to a strong 8 1/2-length maiden score on debut in February over a sloppy and sealed Big A main track.

“This was really a jockey’s race. The top three finishers are all super nice,” said Brown. “Manny was in between those two and I thought he gauged it just enough to move on Jerry the Nipper, who is a really classy horse, when he needed to. But, he didn’t move too soon where you’re going to set it up for City Man, who’s a really consistent horse. He saved just enough to narrowly beat the two of them. It was just a really nice and outstanding ride when you look at it.”

The Ashley T. Cole was part of a natural hat trick on the card for Franco, who said the graded stakes-winning millionaire City Man was his main concern.

“He was traveling so comfortable. It was just a matter of time,” Franco said of his trip. “I had a good position, clean break. He took me to where I wanted to be – close. By the five-sixteenths pole, I took a peek back because I wanted to know where City Man was because I knew he was outside me. At the quarter-pole, I went all in with my horse and he responded to the wire.”

Brown added Spirit of St Louis could target the $200,000 Mohawk on October 29 for one more start this year before a winter vacation.

“Maybe. If we did run him one more time, that would be it. He’s not going to be running outside of New York, not this year anyway,” said Brown. “I would shut him down after that. He wouldn’t have more than one start this year left in him. I may give him a nice break and point for next year, I’ll talk to the partners about it. Hopefully, he stays healthy.”

Bred by Chester and Mary Broman, Spirit of St Louis is a full-brother to 2017 Grade 1 Breeders’ Cup Filly and Mare Sprint-winner Bar of Gold. He banked $68,750 in victory and boosted his total purse earnings to $260,650. Never worse than second, Spirit of St Louis boasts a lifetime record of 6-4-2-0 and returned $4.90 for a $2 win ticket.

Jose Ortiz, aboard the Todd Pletcher-trained Jerry the Nipper, said his horse was valiant in defeat.

“He always tries hard and gives you 100 percent,” said Ortiz. “That’s just what he did today. The winner sat on my flank almost every step of the way and when Manny pushed the button, he was there for him.”

Live racing resumes Saturday at Belmont at the Big A with a lucrative 11-race card featuring the Grade 1, $500,000 Joe Hirsch Turf Classic, the Grade 3, $500,000 Jockey Club Derby Invitational and two Grade 1 “Win and You’re In” qualifiers at one-mile for juveniles in the $500,000 Champagne [Grade 1 Breeders’ Cup Juvenile] and $400,000 Frizette [Grade 1 Breeders’ Cup Juvenile Fillies]. Saturday’s stacked program is supported by the Grade 3, $200,000 Fasig-Tipton Waya and the Grade 3, $200,000 Belmont Turf Sprint. First post is 12:05 p.m. Eastern.

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